Chairman

Planning Commission

President

Planning Commission

Two more subdivisions recently have been approved for development in Petal, said Planning Commission President B.C. Lewis.

"We're all for it, as long as they're up to our regulations," he said."Most of them are selling before they complete the homes.It's a good thing for Petal - we anticipate things darn near doubling by the time the Evelyn Gandy Parkway is said and done.We're looking for it to boom."

Most of Petal's new residents are young couples with children, Lewis said.

"I don't know where all these people are coming from to tell you the truth, but it's our schools bringing them in," he said."We have the best schools in the state."

Petal's schools have repeatedly received a Level 5 rating, the highest possible.

The quest for family-friendly neighborhoods, Lewis said, is the reason Petal's Planning Commission has upgraded its requirements for subdivision proposals, which now include not just amenities like green space but functional elements like sidewalks and curbs that are absent from most existing Petal neighborhoods.

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Development on the scale currently happening in Petal, said the 82-year-old Lewis, is unprecedented in his lifetime.

"Not at this kind of rate," he said.

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B.C. Lewis, president of Petal's planning commission, oversees several new subdivisions going up in the Petal area, including Edgemere on Corinth Road.

Two more subdivisions recently have been approved for development in Petal, said Planning Commission President B.C. Lewis.

"We're all for it, as long as they're up to our regulations," he said."Most of them are selling before they complete the homes.It's a good thing for Petal - we anticipate things darn near doubling by the time the Evelyn Gandy Parkway is said and done.We're looking for it to boom."

Most of Petal's new residents are young couples with children, Lewis said.

"I don't know where all these people are coming from to tell you the truth, but it's our schools bringing them in," he said."We have the best schools in the state."

Petal's schools have repeatedly received a Level 5 rating, the highest possible.

The quest for family-friendly neighborhoods, Lewis said, is the reason Petal's Planning Commission has upgraded its requirements for subdivision proposals, which now include not just amenities like green space but functional elements like sidewalks and curbs that are absent from most existing Petal neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, Forrest County District 3 supervisor and developer Lynn Cartlidge said home-buyers are snapping up lots in various phases of his 854-acre Longleaf Acres subdivision on Eastabuchie Road.

...

Development on the scale currently happening in Petal, said the 82-year-old Lewis, is unprecedented in his lifetime.

"Not at this kind of rate," he said.

...

B.C. Lewis, president of Petal's planning commission, oversees several new subdivisions going up in the Petal area, including Edgemere on Corinth Road.

The number of trailers has decreased to a couple dozen, according to chairman B.C. Lewis.

The remaining mobile homes are to be removed from the property once the owners vacate them or die.Commission members were considering an ordinance to be written to allow "hybrid" homes or trailers that have been modified to have the appearance of a home.

The modified homes would be allowed to stay on the property even if the owner vacated it and wanted to sell it.

"If we're going to leave the things there, they ought to cover it up to where you can't tell it was ever a house trailer," Lewis said.

Alderman James Moore proposed that natural elements such as wood or brick should encase the trailer.He said the ordinance should also include a time limit for requirements to be met.